Wood Treatment Options | How To: Treat Your Home's Logs | Resources for Log Homes
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by: Log Home Living editorial staff
There's a myth floating around that log homes are somehow challenging to maintain and therefore consume hours upon hours of our time and even elbow grease. This is nonsense—and a notion that's probably perpetuated by someone selling condos or stick-built homes. The bottom line is that log homes require the same amount of time and care than any conventional home, and some might argue that they require even less.
As you might guess, most of our focus revolves around preserving the wood.
As soon as a tree is harvested, it runs up against forces such as water, sun, fungi, mildew and insects. Throw in seasonal temperature swings, which cause wood to swell and shrink, and you're left with issues that can impact the health of your logs.
Now the good news: Manufacturers have created hundreds of protective products that shield the wood on your castle from the elements. Designed to protect your new home, these treatments come in liquid, powder or solid form, and they serve different functions. Some seal out moisture, some block the sun, and some discourage bugs and fungi.
How It Works
Treatment to protect your logs can begin before construction starts and should continue for the life of the home. Here are the most common techniques:
1. Thorough drying. Because water inside the wood can support a host of harmful organisms, the first step log home producers take is to reduce the moisture content of the logs. They may air-dry the wood for up to a year or more, heat the logs in huge kilns (reducing moisture and killing insect larvae) or use a combination of air- and kiln-drying.
2. Borate treatment. Some log home producers also protect the wood from insects and fungi by dipping logs in tanks filled with a borate-based solution or infusing them with a borate preservative through pressure treating.
3. Cleaning. Once the logs are assembled at your home site, they should be treated with a cleaning solution to remove mill glaze, road grime, mud and dirt accumulated during construction. Each of these substances can prevent preservatives and finishes from adhering to the wood.
4. Wood preservatives. The next treatment likely will be a wood preservative. The most important role of a preservative is to repel your logs' primary enemy: water. Water promotes mold and mildew and attracts fungi and insects—all of which can break down the wood. Normally, preservatives are applied to your logs every three to five years. But the maintenance schedule varies, depending on factors such as the climate in the region you're building and the specific preservative you select. (Important: You need to apply preservatives that are specifically formulated for log homes.)
5. Biocides. To protect against fungi, mold, mildew and insects, some manufacturers add chemicals called biocides to their preservatives. Although these agents are safe for humans and animals, they kill the organisms that feed on wood.
6. Sunblock. Manufacturers offer sunblock and pigmented preservatives to mitigate the damaging effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
7. Finish coatings. Depending on which product line you use, you may have to spread on a final finish coat after applying the wood preservative or stain. It's worth it: This finish coat will reflect ultraviolet rays and add another layer of water repellency.
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You may call us if you prefer not to order online: 866-700-2995
If you are not in the continental U.S. please call 386-246-3426 (International).
You can also write to:
Country's Best Log Homes
P.O. Box 420235
Palm Coast, FL, 32142-0235
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Log Home Living
Subscribe
Gift Subscription
Customer Service
FAQs
You may call us if you prefer not to order online: 800-234-8496
If you are not in the continental U.S. please call 386-447-2398 (International).
You can also write to:
Log Home Living
P.O. Box 420235
Palm Coast, FL, 32142-0235
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By Thomas St. James on Apr 26, 2008
It might be a good idea to mention that these treatments are extremely flamible, even after they are dry. If your cabin catches fire these chemicals act as if you've poured gasoline on the flames. Get out as fast as you can, and call the fire dept. They won't be able to put out the fire but they can at least keep it from spreading.
By Russell Potosky on Jul 30, 2009
I just built a log home. During construction the home was treated but the gable side facing east has a lot of black in the grain of the wood, it looks pretty bad, any suggestions,